Big Pines Blues Festival Announces Youth Contest Finalists

LONGVIEW – Longview’s Big Pines Blues Festival has announced the names of 15 finalists for the festival’s “Junior Showcase” competition. The young guitar slingers will face off in head-to-head competition to determine the winners in two age groups on Saturday morning, June 3, on the Maude Cobb Rodeo Arena stage. Contestants in Grades 6 through 8, along with their home towns, are Ryan Groom, Kemp; Cody Lattis, Murchison; Harleigh Lodato, Athens; Ben Smiley, Larue; Elijah Thompson, Marshall; and Jackson Zemler, Lewisville. Grade 9-12 hopefuls are Will Beeman, Nashville, Tenn.; Kurtis Bell, Longview; Brody Blanton, Henderson; Derian Hadley, Canton; Ethan Kuntz, Murfreesboro, Ark.; Mathias Lattin, Houston; Liam McCabe, Grapevine; Noah McCray, Mount Vernon; and Grant Mcinnis, Bullard.